Upright type vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

An upright type vacuum cleaner is provided. The upright type vacuum cleaner comprising a brush assembly and a main body rotatably mounted on the brush assembly, wherein the main body has a dust collecting apparatus, a pre-filter unit, a cord reel unit and a fan motor unit, wherein the fan motor unit is installed on a lower portion of the main body, and the cord reel unit is arranged between the pre-filter unit and the fan motor unit such that the discharging air out of the fan motor unit is discharged through the cord reel unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0035458, filed on Apr. 23, 2009, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The following description relates to an upright type vacuum cleaner, and more particularly, to an upright type vacuum cleaner for domestic, industrial, or commercial use.

2. Description of the Related Art

Typically, an upright type vacuum cleaner may include a brush assembly to draw in external air stream, and an upright type main body rotatably formed on the brush assembly. The upright type main body may include a hose nozzle to clean narrow areas.

The upright type vacuum cleaner may generally house in its main body a dust collecting apparatus, a pre-filter unit, a fan motor unit, and a cord reel unit, which may keep therein a reel of power cord.

Since the cord reel unit may continuously supply electricity during the operation of the vacuum cleaner, the cord reel unit needs to be cooled by the discharging air.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,594 pertains to the cooling of a cord reel unit. Here, a cord reel unit is installed in an upper portion of the vacuum cleaner so that the cord reel unit may be cooled by part of an air stream which is discharged from a fan motor unit and passed through the cord reel unit.

However, the above described arrangement has shortcomings. In particular, since the cord reel unit, placed in a relatively upper position of the upright type vacuum cleaner, has a relatively heavier weight, it raises a center of mass of the vacuum cleaner. As a result, the vacuum cleaner may not be balanced easily while moving. This lack of balance may inconvenience a user.

Further, since only part of the discharging air stream from the fan motor unit passes the cord reel unit, and since the fan motor unit and the cord reel unit are distanced away from each other, discharging pressure may deteriorate and cooling efficiency may subsequently deteriorate.

As noted above, the pre-filter unit may be housed in the main body. Thus, in such a situation, a user has to separate the pre-filter unit from the main body in order to check the condition of the pre-filter. Accordingly, pre-filter maintenance may be quite difficult.

SUMMARY

In one general aspect, there is provided an upright type vacuum cleaner, comprising a brush assembly and a main body rotatably mounted on the brush assembly. The main body includes a dust collecting apparatus, a pre-filter unit, a cord reel unit and a fan motor unit. The fan motor unit is installed on a lower portion of the main body, and the cord reel unit is arranged between the pre-filter unit and the fan motor unit such that air discharged out of the fan motor unit is discharged through the cord reel unit.

The pre-filter unit may include a protrusion extended upwardly such that the protrusion is exposed from above a dust collecting apparatus seating surface on which the dust collecting apparatus is seated.

The dust collecting apparatus may include a coupling hole formed in a lower surface to receive the protrusion.

The upright type vacuum cleaner may further include an inflow passage fluidly connecting the pre-filter unit to the fan motor unit. The inflow passage may surround the cord reel unit in a ‘

’ shape.

The fan motor unit may further include a damper mounted near to the inlet of the fan motor unit.

The upright type vacuum cleaner may further include a post-filter unit arranged between the fan motor unit and the cord reel unit.

The damper may supply an external air stream to the fan motor unit in response to an increased vacuum pressure in the fan motor unit.

In another aspect, there is provided an upright type vacuum cleaner, including a brush assembly, and a main body rotatably mounted on the brush assembly. The main body includes a dust collecting apparatus, a pre-filter unit, a fan motor unit and a cord reel unit. The dust collecting apparatus draws in external air to form an internal air stream, the internal air stream is discharged from the dust collecting apparatus through a discharge pipe and passes through the pre-filter unit, the fan motor unit draws in the discharged internal air stream and discharges the air stream through a post-filter unit into the cord reel unit, and the air stream is then discharged from the cord reel unit and exits the main body.

In still another aspect, there is provided an upright type vacuum cleaner including a brush assembly and a main body rotatably mounted on the brush assembly. The main body includes an upper portion removably attached to the lower portion, the lower portion including a pre-filter, a fan motor unit and cord reel unit.

The pre-filter unit may include a protrusion that couples with a coupling hole formed on the upper portion of the main body, to thereby removably attaches the upper portion to the lower portion of the main body.

The upper portion may include a dust collecting apparatus.

The lower portion may receive an air stream discharged from the upper portion through the pre-filter unit, and the air stream may be received in the fan motor unit via a fan motor unit inflow passage.

The fan motor unit inflow passage may be configured such that it extends from a position above the cord reel unit to a position to below the cord reel unit.

The air stream may be discharged from the fan motor unit through cord reel unit.

A post-filter unit may be positioned between the fan motor unit and cord reel unit, and the air stream is discharged through the post-filter unit.

The fan motor unit may further include a damper mounted near to the inlet of the fan motor unit.

Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an upright type vacuum cleaner (also referred to as ‘vacuum cleaner’).

FIG. 2 is a partial cross section view taken on line II-II illustrating an example of a lower area of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view illustrating an example of a main body in which a coupling hole is formed to receive a protrusion of the pre-filter unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a fan motor unit to which a damper is connected.

Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative size and depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein. Accordingly, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the systems, apparatuses, and/or methods described herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an upright type vacuum cleaner (also referred to as ‘vacuum cleaner’). FIG. 2 illustrates a partial cross section view taken on line II-II, showing an example of a lower area of the vacuum cleaner of FIG. 1, including an arrangement of a pre-filter unit, a post-filter unit, a cord reel unit, and a fan motor unit Referring to the examples illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the vacuum cleaner 1 includes a main body 100 having a hose nozzle (not illustrated) to clean narrow areas, and a brush assembly 200 to clean a floor surface. The main body 100 is rotatably mounted on an upper portion of a brush assembly 200.

The brush assembly 200 may employ appropriate tools such as a brush (not illustrated), and may operate to draw in foreign matters of a floor being cleaned along with an air stream drawn by the suction force of the fan motor unit 140. The general structure of the brush assembly 200 may be similar to other known brush assemblies. Accordingly, further explanation thereof is omitted.

The main body 100 includes therein a dust collecting apparatus 110, a pre-filter unit 130, a fan motor unit 140, a post-filter unit 150, and a cord reel unit 160.

The dust collecting apparatus 110 may include a centrifugal separator 111, a discharge pipe 114, and a dust bin 112 having therein the centrifugal separator 111 and the discharge pipe 114. The dust bin 112 may be made from a transparent material to enable a user to check inside the dust bin 112 with his eyes. The dust collecting apparatus 110 with the above-mentioned structure may be removably connected to an upper area of the vacuum cleaner 1.

The pre-filter unit 130 may be fluidly connected to the discharge pipe 114, and placed inside the dust collecting apparatus 110. More specifically, the pre-filter unit 130 may be placed in a lower portion of the dust collecting apparatus 110.

The cord reel unit 160, having therein a coil of power cord 161 to supply driving power to the vacuum cleaner 1, may be formed in a lower portion of the pre-filter unit 130. The cord reel unit 160 may be isolated from the pre-filter unit 130.

The post-filter unit 150, having therein the post-filter 151, may be formed in a lower portion of the cord reel unit 160 to discharge the air stream to the cord reel unit 10.

The fan motor unit 140 includes an outlet 142 which may be formed in a lower portion of the post-filter unit 150, and be fluidly connected to the post-filter unit 150. The fan motor unit also includes a motor shaft 145, as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

Referring to the examples illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, an inlet 141 of the fan motor unit 140 may be fluidly connected to the pre-filter unit 130. To this purpose, the cord reel unit 160 may have an inflow passage 140 a formed on an outer surface and fluidly connected to the post-filter unit 150 and the inlet 141. The inflow passage 140 a may be isolated from the cord reel unit 160 and the post-filter unit 150 to avoid mixing of the air stream discharged from the discharge pipe 114 of the dust collecting apparatus to the fan motor unit 140 and the air stream discharged from the fan motor unit 140.

Referring to FIG. 2, for example, the inflow passage 140 a may be formed in a ‘

’ shape to surround upper and rear portions of the cord reel unit 160. Additionally, a discharge passage, with the cord reel unit 160 arranged therein, may be formed inside the ‘

’ structure of the inflow passage 140 a in a manner in which the discharge passage is isolated from the outside of the inflow passage 140 a. The inflow passage 140 a in ‘

’ shape may form a suction passage through which the air stream is drawn into the fan motor unit 140.

In the vacuum cleaner 1 constructed as explained in the examples above, the cord reel unit 160 is positioned between the pre-filter unit 130 and the post-filter unit 150. As explained above, since the cord reel unit 160 is arranged in a lower portion of the vacuum cleaner 1, the vacuum cleaner 1 may have a lowered center of mass. Accordingly, the vacuum cleaner 1 may have increased stability of motion.

Further, since the cord reel unit 160 is positioned between the pre-filter unit 130 and the fan motor unit 140, all or most of the air streams discharged out of the fan motor unit 140 may pass over the cord reel unit 160. Thus it is possible to rapidly cool down the power cord 161 coiled in the cord reel unit 160.

The user of the vacuum cleaner 1 may also be able to visually inspect the pre-filter unit 130. This is facilitated, at least in part, because the pre-filter unit 130 may have a protruded upper portion, while the dust collecting apparatus 110 may have a recessed lower portion. This arrangement allows for the pre-filter unit 130 to be visible to a user.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom perspective view showing an example of the main body 100 in which a coupling hole 115 is formed to receive a protrusion of the pre-filter unit 130. The structure of the pre-filter unit 130 and the dust collecting apparatus 110 is explained below, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, to illustrate examples.

Referring to the example in FIG. 2, the upper portion of the pre-filter unit 130 may be protruded, that is, the pre-filter unit 130 may have a protrusion 131 adopted for a user to observe. Referring to FIG. 1, for example, the protrusion 131 may be protruded from above a dust collecting apparatus seating surface 2 on which a lower surface of the dust collecting apparatus 110 may be seated.

Referring to FIG. 3, for example, the dust collecting apparatus 110 may have a coupling hole 115 formed in a lower surface to receive the protrusion 131 therein. The coupling hole 115 may correspond in shape to that of the upper surface of the protrusion 131.

As the dust collecting apparatus 110 is mounted on the vacuum cleaner 1, the protrusion 131 may be inserted into the coupling hole 115. In this situation, the dust collecting apparatus 110 may be secured in the vacuum cleaner 1 firmly, since the protrusion 131 supports the dust collecting apparatus 110 from inside the coupling hole 115.

If the dust collecting apparatus 110 is removed from the vacuum cleaner 1, the protrusion 131 is accordingly protruded to above the dust collecting apparatus seating surface 2. As such, the user is able to visually inspect the pre-filter 132 received in the lower portion of the dust collecting apparatus 110.

The vacuum cleaner 1 with the above-mentioned structure may additionally include a damper 143 to decrease inner vacuum pressure of the fan motor unit 140 if the pre-filter 132 is blocked by foreign matters. FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of an example of the fan motor unit 140 to which the damper 143 is connected.

Referring to FIG. 4, for example, the damper 143 may be positioned on a front surface of an impeller casing 144 on which the inlet 141 of the fan motor unit 140 is positioned. The damper 143 may be formed as close as possible to a center of rotation of a plurality of vanes inside the impeller casing 144. That is, the damper 143 may mount near to the inlet 141 of the fan motor unit 140. Accordingly, if the pre-filter unit 130 has decreased air permeability and the fan motor unit 140 subsequently has increased vacuum pressure, the damper 143 may increase operation, since it is in the position most sensitive to the increased vacuum pressure. As a result, if the fan motor unit 140 has an increased vacuum pressure, external air stream may be supplied inside the fan motor unit 140, decreasing the vacuum pressure. The above-mentioned function of the damper 143 may reduce or prevent deterioration of cooling efficiency, which may occur due to use for a long period of time under vacuum condition, or overheat or damage of the fan motor unit 140 due to motor overload.

In the vacuum cleaner 1 with the above-mentioned structure, an air stream drawn through a passage shifting portion is rotated in the centrifugal separator 111, and may thereby shed foreign matters such as dust or dirt. The separated foreign matters may be discharged to a dust collecting area 113 of the dust bin 112, while the dust-free air stream may be discharged to the pre-filter unit 130 through a discharging pipe.

The air stream of the pre-filter unit 130 may be passed through the fan motor unit inflow passage 140 a, introduced into the fan motor unit 140, and discharged through the fan motor unit outlet 142.

The air stream discharged through the fan motor unit outlet 142 is removed of foreign matters in the post-filter unit 150. After that, the air stream is introduced into the cord reel unit 160.

The air stream in the cord reel unit 160 cools down the power cord, and is discharged out through a discharge passage 170 formed between the pre-filter unit 130 and the cord reel unit 160.

The damper 143 may reduce or prevent deterioration of cooling efficiency and increase internal vacuum pressure of the fan motor unit 140.

Additionally, since the protrusion 131 extends from above the dust collecting apparatus seating surface 2, the user is able to visually inspect the pre-filter unit 130 upon separating the dust collecting apparatus 110 from the vacuum cleaner 1. As a result, pre-filter (not illustrated) maintenance may be conveniently and easily performed.

As explained above, an example of an upright type vacuum cleaner may have a cord reel unit, which is arranged so as to lower a center of mass of the vacuum cleaner. As a result, the exemplary upright type vacuum cleaner may have increased stability of motion.

Further, since the cord reel unit is arranged near to the fan motor unit, the air stream passing through the cord reel unit may have decreased degradation of flow rate. Accordingly, cooling efficiency of the cord reel unit may be increased.

Further still, since the user is able to visually inspect the pre-filter of the pre-filter unit, pre-filter maintenance may be conveniently and easily performed.

Further, since the damper arranged in the fan motor unit is positioned near to the center of rotation of the vane members on the surface of the impeller casing, overload, if occurred, may be dealt with quickly. As a result, reliability of overload prevention of the fan motor unit may be increased.

A number of examples of embodiments have been described above. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, circuit or apparatus are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. 

1. An upright type vacuum cleaner, comprising; a brush assembly; and a main body rotatably mounted on the brush assembly, the main body comprising: a dust collecting apparatus; a pre-filter unit; a cord reel unit; and a fan motor unit; wherein the fan motor unit is installed on a lower portion of the main body, and the cord reel unit is arranged between the pre-filter unit and the fan motor unit such that air discharged out of the fan motor unit is discharged through the cord reel unit.
 2. The upright type vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the pre-filter unit comprises a protrusion extended upwardly such that the protrusion is exposed from above a dust collecting apparatus seating surface on which the dust collecting apparatus is seated.
 3. The upright type vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the dust collecting apparatus comprises a coupling hole formed in a lower surface to receive the protrusion.
 4. The upright type vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising an inflow passage fluidly connecting the pre-filter unit to the fan motor unit, wherein the inflow passage surrounds the cord reel unit in a ‘

’ shape.
 5. The upright type vacuum cleaner of claim 4, wherein the fan motor unit further comprises a damper, which is mounted near to the inlet of the fan motor unit.
 6. The upright type vacuum cleaner of claim 1, further comprising a post-filter unit arranged between the fan motor unit and the cord reel unit. 